We’d like to start with a huge thank you to Alastair Gordon, who was acting in the role of VSAConnect Coordinator since June 2019 and finished in November.
Keep an eye out for our 2019 Christmas Appeal letter that highlights the work of returned volunteer, Fran Andrews, who worked with the staff at Callan Services in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
We published our 2018/19 Year in Review in October – and it was full of highlights from another busy year. In 2018/19 we partnered with 190 national and regionally focused development organisations in 12 countries, that's a lot of mahi gone towards making thriving communities! These included community based organisations, national NGOs, International NGOs, the state sector and UN agencies. VSA in-country staff also managed relationships with 197 partner organisations. You can read more here.
Thank you to all our wonderful supporters who attended VSA's annual Congress and AGM on Saturday 9 November in Wellington.
The theme for this year's Congress was “Fetakinima 'i he sipoti: holding one another’s hands through sport”- Sport in Development. We had a number of interesting speakers and a panel discussion about the role sport plays in development.
We are sad to report that one of our most outstanding supporters, Neil Bellingham, passed away in October. Neil, pictured here with Sir Edmund Hillary, was a volunteer in Thailand for nearly three years (1964-66) and in the 1970’s was VSA’s Programme Manager in Zimbabwe, where his wife Juliet accompanied him and also volunteered for VSA as a teacher.
Back in New Zealand Neil continued to support VSA, in the Wellington Branch, and on the VSA Council as well as helping with selection panels and advice for new volunteers. He was also a regular donor to VSA, and his extensive contribution was recognised when he was made a Life Member of VSA.
The contribution of the Bellinghams to VSA has continued in recent years, with Neil’s nephew Peter and his wife Anne recently returned from PNG Bougainville, where they volunteered at the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation.
Our President, Dr Simon Mark, represented VSA at Neil’s funeral in recognition of Neil’s extraordinary years of service.
Timor-Leste documentary
Returned volunteer Helen Reynolds has created a short documentary While I Can Lift My Hands about women in a business co-operative called HAFOTI in Timor-Leste. You can view the video here.
We recently received this great message from Colin Law who volunteered in Samoa in 1964.
In January 2020 I will be revisiting Samoa, a country and people who have been my friends for 55 years. In June 1964 VSA sent me to Apia as a volunteer radio technician for 12 months.
I was billeted with a wonderful Samoan family who taught me much about the country and its people. I believe that was the foundation which saw me staying on to teach at the Trades School for six months, then teaching at Wesley College for four years before returning to New Zealand because my wife fell ill.
I have returned to Samoa for holidays several times since then - 1979, 2009, 2012, 2014 and soon 2020. I have an on-going close friendship with Samoa and its people and I'm immensely grateful to VSA for the initial introduction they gave me to Samoa.
Thank you,
Tuipulotu Colin Law
VSA for Schools
We launched an online resource for teachers and students of social sciences in September called VSA for Schools. The resource is focused on the Pacific and structured around the social inquiry model teachers are familiar with.
Each case study centres on a personal story that has social issues at heart. There are four personal, community-based stories about our neighbours in the Pacific. The stories demonstrate:
How a problem or combination of problems is impacting on people’s lives
Professor Tony Binns of the University of Otago has been appointed a Life Member of Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) - Te Tūao Tāwāhi, one of only 21 people appointed since 1962. You can find out more here.
Among friends
Stay in touch by joining Friends of VSA, a closed Facebook group for returned volunteers.
VSA helps develop the first ever global volunteering standard
VSA had significant input in developing a set of global standards for volunteering for development which was launched in October 2019. The standards were agreed by several hundred stakeholders from across the international volunteering for development sector.
Stephen Goodman, VSA's Chief Executive, signing the Kigali Declaration committing to the new Forum Standards
Wellington quiz fundraiser
Thanks to the wonderful Wellington people who supported our quiz evening on 10 October. The night was a great hit and with your support we managed to raise an incredible $1,393.00 to VSA.
New assignments
Check out all our amazing volunteer assignments here and please share with anyone who you think might be looking for a fantastic volunteering opportunity.
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